Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-17
A NOVEL
CONTINUED.
cHAPrER I'M,
ERTENn

,.Dpn't, uoh J. SWN SSSr ONA 0Hy
.,cr is 10 be ciViS' whereOn, thinking
better OF the matter, he replaced it, and
wished the leading BOer gOOd-day.
What are you doing here" asked the
Dutchman; whereon Jess explained that
they had y paSs-which John promptly
prOdueed-and were proceeding to Moot
fOntein.
"Ah, ON Crotsr' said the BOer as he
took the pass; you are likely to meet a
buTying-party there," and at the time jess
did not understand what he meant He
eyed the pass s~uspiciously all over, and
then asked how il came to be stained with
water.
Jess. not daring to tell the truth, said
that it had been dropped into a puddle.
The Boer was about to return it, when sud
denly his eye tell upon Jess's saddle.
How is it that the girl is riding on a
mans saddle" he asked. why, | know
that saddle; let NE look at the other side.
Yes, there is a bullet hole through the hap.
That is Swart Dirk's saddle. How did
you get it?"
II bought it from him" answered jess,
without n moments hesitation. Il could
yet nothing to ride on
The BOer shook his head. There are
plenty of saddles in Pretoria he said,
land these are not the days when \ man
sells his saddle to an English girl. All.
and that other is q BOer saddle too. No
Enrlishman has a Saddle-clOth like that.
This psss is not sufficient. " he went on, in
a cold tone; 1T should have been counter
signed by the local commandment. must
arrest You
jess began to make further excuses, but
he merely repeated, Il must arrest you"
and gave some orders to the men with him.
We are in for it again" she said to
John; and there is nothing for 1t but to
go"
Il sha'n't mind 30 much if only they
will give US some grub said John,
p~hilosophically. II am half starved"
And am half dead" said jess, with
a little laugh. II wish they would shoot
us and nave done with it,"
Come, cheer up Jess" be answered;
perhaps the luck is going to change"
She shook her head with an air of one
who expects the worst, aud then some gay
yOung spirits among the Beers came up
aud made things pleasant by IN exhibition
OF their polished wit, which they chiefly
exercised at the expense OF poor jess,
whose appearance was, A. may we'll be I'M
agined, exceedingly Nretched and torlOrn;
40 much so that Il would have moved the
pity OF most peopl,. But these specimens
of the golden youth OF a simple pastoral
folk foundin IL a rich mine OF opportunities.
They asked her ii she would not like to
ride straddle-legged, and If she had bought
her dress from an old HottentOt who had
done with it, and il she had been rolling
about tipsy in the veldt to get all the mud
ON It; and generally awaited themselves Of
this unparalleled occasion to be witty ut
the expense of au English lady in sore dis
trrsS. Indeed, one gay young dog, called
JaeObus, was proceeding from Jokes lin
Ruistic 10 Jokes practical. Percelying that
Jess only kept her seat on the mans sad
die by the exercise of 4 curious faculty Of
balance, it occurred to him that it would
be y tine thing to upset it and make her
fall upon her taCe. Accordingly, with a
sudden twist of the rein he brought his
horse sharply against her wearied animal,
nearly throwing II down; but she was too
quick for him, and saved herself by catch
iuy at the name. Jess said nothing; iu-
deed. she made no answer to her tOrmentOrS,
and fortunately John understood very lit
tie of what they were saying. Presently,
however, the young BOer made another at
tempt, putting out his hand to give her a
sly push; and, rs it happened, John saw it,
and the sight of the indignity made the
blood boil in his veins. Before he could
reflect Oh what he was doing he was along
side of the man, and, catching him by the
throat, had hurled him backwards over
his crupper with all the force he could
command. The man fell heavily upon his
shoulders, and instantly there Wa a great
hubbub. John drew his revolver, and the
other Beers raised their rifles, and Jess
thought that there was an end of it, and
put her hand before her face, having first
thanked John for ~avenging the. insult with
a swift flash of her beautiful eyes. And,
indeed, in another second il would have
been all over had not the elder man who
had taken the pass i~nterpOsed; the fact
being that he had witnessed the proceed
ings that led to his followers discontinue,
duu, btluS y NCNCuN uAAu az OOhNohls hoN
disapprOyed Of them.
Leave them alone and put down those
guns" he shouted. at served Jacobus
right; be was trying to push the girl from
the horse. Almighty! it is not wonderful
those English call US brute beasts when
you boys do such things. Put down your
guns, | say, and one OF you help Jacobus
up He looks rs sick rs q buck with q
bullet through it,"
Accordingly the row passed over, and the
playful JaeObuS-whom Jess noted with
satisfaction WGs exceedingly sick and trem'
bled in every limb-was with difficulty
hoisted on to hrs horse, aud proceeded on
his journey with not a single bit offun left
in him.
A little while after this Jess pointed out
a long, low hill that lay upon the 1at belt,
u dozen miles or so away, like 4 stone on
stretch OF Saud.
Look" she said, there is MOOifonteir
at last"
I'VE are not there yet, " remarked John,
sadly.
Another weary halEhOur passed, and
then they suddenly, on passing over n crest,
saw Hans COetzee's homestead lying down
by the water in the hollow. 80 that wa
where they were being taken to.
Within a hundred yards of the hOuSs
the Goers halted and consulted, except
JscObus, who went on, still looking very
green. Finally the elder man came t.
them and addressed jess, at the sam time
handing her back the pass "Iou can y
on home" he said. The EnglishmsI
must stay with us till we md out mor'
about HIM"
"He says that ] can 70. What shall
do?" asked jess. II don't like leaving
YOU with these men"
DO? why 90, of course. ] can lOOE
after myself; and if | can't, certainly you
won't be able to help me. Perhaps you
will be able to get some help At the farm,
At any rate, you must go"
Now, Englishman, said the BOer.
Goodbye, Jess, said John. God bleS:
you"
Goodbye, John," she answered, look
ing him steadily in the eyes for a moment,